Visited this park today on a cold winter morning. Gate was closed, so I had to park out on the…read morestreet just outside the park, which was not too bad. Even with sidewalks and the parking lot slicked over in ice, this was actually a pleasant park to visit just to get some fresh air on a cold winter morning. There were a surprising amount of dog walkers and even small groups of people also getting outside for some fresh air. I can see how this park would be a great place to get outside in nicer weather. There's a softball field, a small picnic and firepit area, and a few outer trails that directly connect to the larger Wissahickon trail system. I could have kept going... but alas I didn't bring a beanie with me. Great park, will be back!

Blue Bell is a hidden gem on the Germantown side of the Wissahickon Creek. It is one of Fairmount…read morePark's best parks because it is used for so many diverse things. 1. Dog Park-- Lots of room to run, lots of things to investigate on the edges of the field, lots of small and long trails to hike! I'm actually not a fan of a lot of the people who come here with their dogs. Not a lot of control going on (more that casual, "beeeeenji, come back" kind of dog watching. which is okay unless you have a big dog and have to deal with their little yappy biting bastard.) Most of the more responsible owners come during the day when it's empty or skip the park altogether and just hike the trails. That said, if you are a more social, stand-around kind of owner-- this is the park for you: around 5:00-6:00 pm there has gotta be about 40 people and their dogs congregating and hanging out in the field. 2. Picnic Areas-- this is one of the premiere spots inthe Northwest for family/ school/ fraternity / sorority reunions, Memorial and Labor Day Parties, you name it. With 5 separate picnic areas, there can even be multiple events going on at once (though Picnic Area #5 is the prime one and is closest to the pavilion). I have even seen people pull trucks out into the field and set up bbq pits and tables on the grass! They HAD two Porta Potties which were both sparklingly clean and always stocked with Toilet Paper (yay!), but recently they got rid of the blue one (private contractors not Fairmount Park). There is a pavilion with 3 picnic tables and a working fireplace. 3. Access to Hiking/Biking Trails: So, you can get to both the hill bike trails and the main hiking trail from at least 6 small trails that I can think of off the top of my head (I attached pics of a couple of them). The wonderful people at Fairmount Park are currently renovating this Park's access, and are about half done-- gosh, every once in a blue moon I am proud of our Philly government... 4. Parking: regretfully for them, many people do not live near the Wissahickon Valley and have to drive here. Parking lots with easy access to Creek Trails are essential. Blue Bell has a TON of parking and is pretty empty except for peak times. Peak times are as follows (caveat: this is based only on my own observations). WEekdays-- early morning, say 8:00-9:00 am; evening, say 5:00-7:00 pm; weekends, ALL DAY. Another thing to be aware of is that Germantown Friends' softball team seems to use the field, though randomly. Just be aware that you might head over to get away from the dogs, be lounging in left field reading a book, when 30 screaming girls will pour of a yellow bus and swarm you... 5.Baseball Field: very well-groomed (as I mentioned, GFS' softball team uses it). Best thing of all is that they also have a pitching "cage" and a batting "cage" (both are netting). The pitching cage even has a bounce back net with strike zone hole! 6. Porta Potty: Last but not least, one of the major uses of this park is to go to the bathroom: trash men, water department, roofers, landscapers, regular Joes in suits and ties-- they ALLLLLLL come here to use the bathroom. And only to use the bathroom. As you can see from the pictures, the Porta Potty is CLEAN and always stocked with TP. I don't know about you, but having somewhere in an emergency (and knowing where it is) is a major quality of life issue :) there's always the woods, but I am getting old... HOURS: From April 1 through October 31 the parking lot is open from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, November 1 through March 31 they close it up at 6:00 pm. But no worries, there is plenty of parking on Walnut Lane's shoulder and there are plenty of trails leading from the street. Also, when they are going to lock the gate at closing, the Ranger will drive in with his lights (like tow lights) flashing and will play a megaphone/speaker announcement that the park is closing (and it's usually at least a half hour late....) So whether you are taking care of a dog, hiking, biking, relaxing or just need to go to the bathroom, don't forget about Blue Bell Park!

Such an amazing place to spend a sunny afternoon. Safe for kids, great for outdoor run, etc.read more

Great local park that (for now) doesn't usually get too crowded, and has some nice trails to walk…read morearound. They have a butterfly garden in one section, and some trails that go through the forest and through some old farmland. It's a fun place to walk around, and there's also a big field where you can play some sports. There's also a playground and a pavilion that's available for rent. Overall, pretty nice spot for a morning or afternoon walk on a nice day. Also nice for outdoor gatherings with friends during this pandemic!

Beautiful grounds with garden waterfalls and trees as far as the eye can see. if you like the great…read moreoutdoors, this is a place for you. Pastorious park is a place where there are quite a few events that are family friendly such as musical concerts during the summer. Additionally, they have other events like a lobster feast in September and you can also rent the grounds for your very special occasions. There are various places to park on the perimeter of the grounds and nearby city streets. It's not plentiful, but it's enough for midsize events of approximately 100-200 cars. Of course the neighborhood is very safe if you park your car in a residential area you can walk away feeling secure. As long as you are a respecting the homeowners and the neighborhood.

Just a great place to relax, have lunch, and enjoy the birds and foliage! . The park was not…read morecrowded when I went. It was clean,and I enjoyed watching the bustling activity in the Italian Market.

I like this park a lot! I learned about it from a school trip I went on with a Roxborough High…read moreSchool class I've been substituting in a lot the past couple years. I (It would be nice if Philadelphia had more of them.)

Recently went to a wedding here. The venue and grounds are beautiful and in an old mansion with an…read moreattached outside tented area. The wedding ceremony complete with folding chairs very close together was in an open area just beyond the tented area. Luckily the ceremony was early enough before dusk to keep the bugs at bay. The reception in the tented area was spacious with a great layout. After dinner we were ushered to the dance floor inside the estate. It was an awkwardly small room which connected to another small room with one side exiting onto a patio through large windows which were hard to navigate in heels. Two bathrooms were in an out building off the tented area with unlit paths and uneven steps. Just some observations. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Catering service was good.

We went here on a whim after ordering lunch and came here to eat it. It's off the highway and river…read morewhich is pretty but hard to find parking that doesn't involve crossing the highway. It appears that there used to be a lot of seating or benches but most of them are now removed. The area is small but pretty. There's a small pond with a mini waterfall as well. There are a couple pathways by the pond but they don't lead anywhere. I think this was a great park but given the location and area I'd recommend checking out other parks first.

If you are looking for a little zen time, adventure or a just a nice afternoon in uncomplicated…read morenature then this is the place. Stay at ground level for the pretty. Venture up the back stone staircases and perch yourself on a rock wall for some zen or venture further up the path for adventure. Be careful. Go with a friend. Somedays vagrants like to camp up there and build fires and stare weirdly at you like you just crawled into their hobbit hole, kinda like today when I was adventuring up past the stairs. Also, Some nights you may find yourself at that same very spot in a drum circle, dancing and howling at the moon. Either way, this spot offers it all :)

Much like Jefferson Square Park…read more(http://www.yelp.com/biz/jefferson-square-park-philadelphia?hrid=HXl7DlrCnaLA9iLGadtx_w#src:self) Dickinson Square is one of those often overlooked Square's that's worth the visit. Only, while it still doesn't offer as much as the likes of Rittenhouse or Washington Square, it does come with a few more amenities. The basketball court seems to be packed well into the night hours, There's a good assortment of playground equipment to play in, and there's a couple of eclectic sculpture pieces that's worth stopping to admire. It's also the perfect spot to stop in worth either some quality South Philly people watching, or when you can't wait to savor whatever Gooey Louie's sandwiches or Grindcore baked goods you take home with you. And in the occasional farmers market and festival, and it provides the perfect dose of park life.

This is a very nice park. Astroturf in the kids area so they won't get muddy (brilliant). There are…read moremany old Sycamore trees which are gorgeous and provide shade. Grindcore Coffeehouse is just down the street. Lots of dogs and people in general. You can take in the Sun with plenty of grass areas. Very clean overall. Worth the walk if you're in the area. I live close, this is my go to park.

During this hot weather, a shady stroll through Lorimer Park was pleasant. The path was paved and…read morestroller accessible . Everyone we encountered was friendly although there were not many people. There were a few benches along the way, but I could see how there could be a need for more benches if more people were present. We were also surprised that we did not encounter many bugs. We did use bug spray just in case! The parking lot was easy to find and there was plenty of space. We plan to return again for a family walk.

This 230 acre park was given to the people of Montgomery County by the estate of George Horace…read moreLorimer, the editor of the Saturday Evening Post and president of Curtis Publishing Co., both headquartered in Philadelphia from the late 19th Century to the present. His mausoleum is in Laurel Hill Cemetery, so although originally from North Carolina, his true impact was on the cultural life of our city. Fairly small, it feels considerably larger due to its connection to Pennypack Park covering a large area in Northeast Philadelphia to the border with Montco. The creek by the same name flows through both parks, tying them together geologically. The watercourse meanders through Lorimer where it has cut a deep ravine over the millennia. There are multiple scenic overlooks worth exploring, even in winter when the absence of foliage allows you to see through the trees to the actual contours of the steep rocky hills across the creek. If power walking or family bike riding is your jam, Pennypack Trail runs along the northern boundary of the park and beyond for several miles, and it is flat, wide and dirt/gravel packed for smooth ambulation or cross country biking, allowing excellent views of the topography and creek vale. Plenty of parking in a big lot across the road from the main entrance.

X-posting a review from the Wissahickon Park page. This park is so good it deserves two 5-star…read moreratings. Hard to rate an entire park this massive, but all things considered, after 5 years of traversing the trails here, this is an awesome park. Note that I live in U-City, so the fact that such a massive trail system exists in only a ~20 minute drive, depending on which part of the park I start in, is a blessing and keeps my sanity. Friends of Wissahickon does a great job maintaining trails and even expanding the system over the past few years. I don't think I've ever observed an unseemly part of the park. Definitely unseemly times of year like the snow thaw or the time between the trees dying and the snow falling, but otherwise, this park is beautiful all times of year. I've never had a hard time parking, never even had trouble with crowds even around the most popular trails (ex. Forbidden Drive). Even the bikers are friendly and patient here! Would strongly recommend not only visiting but coming back to keep exploring! I'm still finding new gems in this massive trail system.

Today I decided to switch things up and take a trip to Valley Green in Wissahickon Park, Philly…read more I've always heard about Devil's Pool but had never been, so when I saw the trailhead, I figured--why not check it out? What I've known about Devil's Pool is that it's been a popular hangout spot, especially for teens and young adults--swimming, drinking, smoking, etc. But I wasn't prepared for how disappointing the trail would be. At nearly every turn, there was trash--plastic bottles, wrappers, and even entire black garbage bags just left behind. The closer I got to Devil's Pool, the worse it got. There are clear signs asking visitors to take their trash with them, yet so many clearly don't. It's really disheartening to see such a beautiful natural space disrespected like that. Instead of feeling peaceful or connected to nature, it honestly felt a bit unsanitary and neglected. Wissahickon Park deserves better. If you visit, please respect the space and take out everything you bring in.